Back to the future – this is 2020

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Digital transformation; it’s been the business buzzword of choice for the last 2 years or so. It’s proven to be one buzzword which has some meat behind it. Digital transformation is still a hot topic and has manifested in tangible success for many businesses and even charities like The Prince’s Trust.

Like all trends, digital transformation means different things to different people. And like all trends, it must eventually fade until ‘digital’ just becomes the norm of how we do business. But what comes next?

Beyond digital?

Technology is evolving at such a rapid race. It’s continually pushing the boundaries of what we ever thought possible in our wildest back to the future fantasies.

Noone can say for certain what the future holds. To try and understand what could be coming, it’s important to understand the state of play today. Infomentum surveyed 1000 office workers to find out their current opinions, attitudes and experiences as both employees and customers. By finding out what motivates people now, we can begin to consider how 2020 may look; and more importantly, how business can prepare.

Thriving or skiving?

Employees feel they’re thriving. They’re embracing new technologies, and using it to their advantage. 39% of office workers are actively using social media to communicate and collaborate. But even in 2016, many bosses still view social media as skiving. The same goes for expectations of working from home; employees want it, but many bosses are still not open to the idea.

Employers need to ensure that their staff can access the same information as the office anywhere in the world, to remove the ‘skiving’ label from remote working. Businesses that are agile enough to allow their staff to move without constraint, both physically and technologically, will see the greatest benefits.

Rise of the fickle consumer

Worried your website is sub-par today? You should be. 77% of users claimed they would leave a site immediately if they experienced any difficulty. And guess what? They’ve probably gone straight to your competitor.

As we move towards 2020, consumer expectations will pressure brands into behaving in a way that best suits them. The businesses that aren’t prepared for a fast pace of change will get left behind.